Air filter and cooler.



No. 838,602. PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

.J. ZELLWEGER.

AIR FILTER AND COOLER. APPLICATION FILED APB. 18,}904.

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WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AIR- FILTER AND COOLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18; 1906.

Application filed April IS, 1904- Serial No. 203,775.

To all 1071077?! it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN ZELLWEGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Air Filters and Coolers, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is averticalsectional view through myimproved air filter and cooler on the line 1 l of Fig. 2. 2 is a similarview taken at right angles or on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view through a modified form of filter and cooler.Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the same on the line 4 4of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a modified form of easing. Fig. 6 is an enlargeddetail view of the filter-ring. on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is aplan view of a portion of the filter-ring. Fig. 9 is a sectional viewthrough the water-supply pipe, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view throughthe same on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in air filtersand coolers, the object being to purify and cool air used forventilating or other purposes.

Another object is to construct an air filter and cooler which is capableof depriving the air of dust and foreign particles, at the same timecooling the same and delivering it under pressure to the conduit-pipe,whence it is conducted to the room or rooms of the build- In theaccompanying drawings I have shown a very simple form of apparatuscapable of carrying out my invention and which requires very littlepower to operate it in comparison with the capacity of the apparatus.

In order that some idea may be gained of the size of the apparatus shownin Figs. 1 and 2, I will now state that for a capacity of thirty-fourthousand cubic feet of air per minute, the filter-ring running at aspeed of two hundred revolutions per minute, the diameter of the casingwill be about fourteen feet and the diameter of the air inlets or eyesabout four feet six inches. Of course niachines for different capacitieswill be built in different sizes and the speed. of the filter-ringregulated according to the requirements of each case.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view- In the drawings, 1 indicates the foundation,which maybe of suitable masonry hav ing posts or other supports 2 ateither side thereof, upon which are mounted the journal-boxes 3, saidjournal-boxes affording a bearing for a power-driven shaft 4, having apulley 5 on one end and a pulley 6 on the opposite end, the latterpulley being belted to the pump. Mounted on this shaft is what I termthe filter-ring, which ring is preferably supported by a hub-sleeve 7,to which are secured disk plates 8, or in lieu of the imperforate diskplates shown spokes may be used. The outer edges of the disks 8 (seeFig. 7 carry ring-plates 9, to which are riveted or otherwise securedthe flanges of circumferential plates 10, whichplates are perforated forthe passage of the air. The opposite or outer edges of plates 10 arepreferably similarly flanged for the purpose of riveting or otherwisesecuring ring-plates 11 thereto, as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably angledwings or vanes 12 are secured to the plates 10 by means of bolts 13,which bolts extend inwardly and holdthe filtering material in position.It should be understood, however, that these wings or vanes are notabsolutely essentialto the successful operation of my device, and, ifdesired, they could be dispensed with.

14 indicates corrugated wire mesh, which is arranged against the innerface of the plates 10 in such manner as to preferably provide openspaces in alinement with the perforations of the plates 10. Against theinner face of this corrugated wire mesh is laced a fibrous filteringmaterial 15. I have found that excelsior makes a very cheap and goodmaterial for this purpose; but it is obvious that there are othermaterials, such as crushed coke, which may be used and which will answerequally well. In order to hold the eXcelsior or other filtering material in position, I arrange a facing-ring 16 against the inner facethereof, which facingring is preferably of wire mesh, and against whichimpinge the nuts on the bolts 13 for securing the same in position.

It will be observed that the plates 11 are of ring shape, andconsequently are open at the center, so as to provide large eyes at eachside of the filter-ring, the said filter-ring being supported at itsmiddle, so as to permit the introduction of a supply of water onto thefiltering material, either from the outside as, for example, by theprojection of a spray into the filter-ring and onto the filteringmaterialor the supply of water may be introduced through a pipeprojecting into the filtering-ring and provided with perforationsthrough which that water drops onto the filtering material, as shown inFig. 2. I prefer the use of the pipe because by such means water can beintroduced and evenly distributed over the filterring. There is asupplypipe for each side of the filter-ring, said pipe being indicatedby the numeral 17. The end of this pipe inside of the filtering-ring isclosed by a cap 18 and said pipe is provided with discharge-openings 19along its length, as shown in Fig. 9,said pipe being carried by acoupling 20, connecting it to a branch pipe 21, said branch pipe beingsupported in position by any appropriate means.

23 indicates a pipe reading to the branch pipe, which pipe is connectedto a pump 24. Pipe 25 is a branch pipe leading from the riser on thepump to the branch pipe on the opposite side of the ousing. The pump 24has its suction-pipe 26 connected with a water-receptacle 27, whichreceptacle is employed for collecting the water which passes through thefiltering-ring. The pipes 17 are preferably arranged so as to dischargethe water at an angle at two places against the filtering-ring; but itis obvious that instead of two pipes one or more than two could beemployed.

In order to keep the discharge-openings 1.9 free, I introduce loose pins28 through openings in the opposite side of the pipe, which openingsare, subsequently closed by plugs 29. The pins 28 have heads on theirinner ends, which heads rest upon the edges of a slot in an inner pipe30. 31 indicates a rod which is preferably secured by a pin 32 in theouter end of the pipe 30, said rod passing through a packed joint to theexterior and provided with a head 33. In the event that the openings 19become clogged or choked it is obvious that by moving the rod 31. thepipe 30 can be lifted or moved about within the pipe 17, andconsequently motion is imparted to the several pins 28, which motionwill clear the openings 19.

34 indicates the casing of the machine, which preferably starts from apoint adjacent the periphery of the filter-cylinder and thence extendsspirally around the cylinder to form a dischargeconduit 35. The ends ofthis spiral cylinder are closed by plates 36, which have openingspreferably of corre sponding diameter to the openings in the ring-plates11, so as to form the eyes of the fan to admit air into the fan fromboth sides. The dischargeconduit 35 has its bottom wall terminatingabove the receptacle 27 and beyond this point continues as aconduit-pipe 37, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of my improved air filter and cooler is as follows: Thefiltering ring or cylinder is designed to be rotated .in the directionof the arrow. (Shown in Fig. 1..) Water is introduced into the pipes soas to fill the receptacle 27, and the pump 24 is then preferablyoperated. to draw the water from the receptacle 27 and force it throughthe supply-distributing pipes 17 onto the inner face of the filteringmaterial. The filtering material thus becomes thoroughly saturated withwater, which Water is discharged outwardly by centrifugal force as thefilteringring revolves against the inner face of the casing 34. The airentering through the eyes of the apparatus is also forced outwardly bycentrifugal force through the filtering material and the perforatedplates 10. As previously stated, I prefer to provide the filtering-ringwith vanes or wings 12, as said wings facilitate the passage of the airthrough the filtering-ring. In actual operation, however, I have foundthat these Wings may be omitted so that it should be understood thatthey are not essential to the successful .operation of my device. Theair which is introduced into the casing 34 under pressure will find itsescape through the discharge-com duits 35 37. In passing through thefiltering material the air, which is preferably drawn from the exterior,will be forced to find its way through the connected interstices of thefiltering material and being thus finely divided more readily yields itsimpurities and foreign particles to the saturated filtering material.The water introduced onto the filtering material not only serves toflush said material and keep it comparatively clean, the foreignparticles collected from the air being held in suspension and thrown offby centrifugal force; but, in addition to this, the air from theexterior will evaporate more or less water in the filtering mass and sodoing yields a certain amount of heat, the air passing from the machinebeing relatively cooler than the air drawn into the machine.

By experiment I have found that with an outside temperature of 100 theair passing through the machine will not only be deprived of itsimpurities, but will have its temperature reduced about 20 degrees,depending upon its humidity. It is a known fact that air at a giventemperature is capable of being saturated with moisture only to acertain extent. The lower the temperature the less will be the amount ofmoisture absorbed by the air. This being the case, it will be seen thatby the use of my apparatus if the air entering the machine at 100 iscomparatively drythat is, not saturated with moisture*but is capable ofbeing cooled by the evaporation and absorption of moisture, itstemperature will be reduced, so that after leaving the machine such airat a reduced temperature is to an extent saturated with moisture, andwhen introduced into a room will, upon absorbing heat and cooling theroom, have its capacity for absorption increased in proportion to thehigher temperature which it reaches. Thus while in its cooler state theair from my machine may be moist when it reaches a higher temperature itis comparatively dry.

As the filtering-ring rotates and throws off the air and water bycentrifugal force it is obvious that the particles of water leave thering in tangential lines, and in order to collect the water which isthrown into the dis charge-conduit 35 I arrange partition-plates 38 insaid conduit, which partition-plates divide the conduit intocompartments. In the length of these partition-plates as well as nearthe inner end of the continuation of the easing 34 I arrange slots,39,adjacent to which are gutters 40, forming transfer-points for the water.Thus any water dripping from the under surface onto the upper surface ofthe partition-plates or the casing will be received in the gutters andtransferred onto the upper surface, so that said water will not againdrip in the lower half of the machine from the under surface onto theupper receiving-surface therebeneath. In this way I prevent the airpassing through the discharge conduit from carrying the water in theform of a spray into and through the conduit 37. To transfer the waterfrom the casing 34 without disturbance, I arrange a pipe 41 in thebottom of said casing and extend said pipe down close to the partition38 immediately thereunder. The end wall of this partition 38 is providedwith a flange 42 to trap a certain amount of water, and a pipe 43,arranged slightly above its bottom is arranged in this partition 38 andextends close to the bottom of the next partition 38 imme diatelytherebeneath, which is provided with an end flange or wall and adischarge-pipe similar to the one above described, said lastmentioneddischarge-pipe in the lowermost partition 38 leading off its water tothe end wall of the casing 34, over which it drops into the receptacle27. From the above it will be seen that the lower ends ofthese-collectingpipes are sealed by a pool of water underneath, whichprevents the current of air from disturbing the water in its transferfrom the casing or the partitions to the receptacle 27.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it will beseen that instead of using the horizontal shaft, as in the constructionshown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is here shown a vertical shaft 4?, mountedin suitable bearings and carrying a filter ring or cylinder ofsubstantially the same character as the one hereinbefore described,except that this cylinder has an eye on one side only. The spiral casingaround the cylinder is substantially the same as that hereinbeforedescribed, except that the water collected against the spiral wallsthereof is received by the bottom wall, whence it may be pumped backinto the water-supply pipe 17 This supply-pipe instead of beingperforated, as before described, is provided with a discharge openingthrough which a jet of water is emitted, said jet being received againsta deflecting-plate 17 and sprayed against the inner face of thefiltering material. In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 thespiral conduit discharges at one point only. It is obvious that a seriesof spirally-arranged plates could be employed, as shown in Fig. 5, so asto multiply the points of discharge. It will be noticed with respect tothese modifications, as well as with respect to the preferredconstruction, that the important feature of this invention resides inthe filtering cylinder or ring carrying the filtering material,preferably of very coarse excelsior, between'a cylinder of perforatedmetal on the outside and cylindrical sections of wire-cloth on theinside, with stay-bolts between them. This filter cylinder or ring isrevolved with the shaft and kept wet with water sprinkled on it fromwithin. The air in the spaces of the rotating filter cylinder or ring iscarried along in a circular course and by the centrifugal forcedeveloped thereby is thrown out in the samemanner as from the wheel of acentrifugal fan. More air follows by atmospheric pressure, and theresult is a rapid aircurrent through the filter-ring and the forciblecontact of the air passing with the water on the excelsior. All dirt andsome gases are taken by the water from the air, while the air evaporatesand absorbs some of the wa ter. The heat necessary for this evaporationis taken from the air or from the water or from both if theirtemperature is above the temperature of saturation of the air used,

Air and water leave the filter-ring at the same temperature, which isfrom 70 to 80 Fahrenheit for summer weather. The water is thrown from.the filter-ring in numerous small drops, which are caught up andretained by the spiral casing. The drops and mist which are carriedalong by the rapidlymoving air enter the separator-duct, which conveysthe air about half-way around and through the action of centrifugalforce gradually approach and finally touch and adhere to the severalpartitions of the casing.

In the specification I have used the word filter to designate a bed ofsmall bodies such, for example, as wood-shavings, brushwood, crushedcharcoal or coke, wire-netting, &c.kept wet by a liquid and withpassages between them so large that air can flow through those passagesfreely and rapidly. when it is under the influence of only a moderateforce. In this machine such force is A filtering of curled wood stripsabout one-eighth of an inch by onesixteenth of an inch by three incheslong rotating around a shaft with a velocity of three thousand feet perminute causes air to flow through its passages against an outerresistance equal to three-eighths of an inch water-pressure at a speedof six feet per minute. In this filter the purification of air iseffected by making the foreign particles adhere to the water film on thesurfaces of the small bodies constituting the filter and by immediatelyWashing them out of the filter.

My improved filter acts as an air-propeller and as an air-purifier atthe same time, and

is therefore essentially different form a filterv consisting of afabric, cloth or one thickness of netting with meshes so small that itcan purify air by obstructing the passage of the foreign particles andretain the same on its surface until they are removed periodically. Sucha close-meshed filter requires considerable pressure of air either froma blower or from atmospheric pressure to effect a transit of air throughit.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my device can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. An air filter and cooler comprising a filter-ring formed of porousmaterial and adapt ed to be rotated at a high speed for drawing anto-the interior thereof, and means for supplying water to the innerface of said ring whereby the air and water are forced out wardly bycentrifugal force through the material of the filter-ring; substantiallyas described.

2. An air filter and cooler comprising a filter-ring formed of porousmaterial and adapted to be rotated at a high speed for drawing air intothe interior thereof, a casing surrounding said ring and provided withan opening communicating with the interior of the ring and affording apassage-way for the air which is drawn into the interior of the ring,and a water-conduit extending through the opening in the casing forsupplying Water to the inner face of the filter-ring, whereby air andwater are forced outwardly by centrifugal force through the material ofthe .ring into the casing which surrounds said ring substantially asdescribed.

3. In an air filter and cooler, the combination of a casing having aneye and a discharge-conduit, a centrifugal fan mounted in said casingand adapted to be rotated at a high speed, an internal filter-ringcarried by the fan, and means for supplying water and air to the innersurface of said ring, whereby the air and the water are together forcedoutwardly substantially as described.

4. In an air filter and cooler, the combina tion of a casing having aneye and a discharge-conduit, an open-ended perforated cylinder mountedin the casing and adapted to be rotated at a high speed, the open end ofsaid cylinder registering with the eye of the casing, a corrugated wiremesh arranged against the inner face of said perforated cyl inder,fibrous filterin material arranged against said corrugate' wire mesh, aperforated facing=plate for said filtering material, stay-bolts,longitudinallydisposed air-proj ecting wings or vanes arranged on theoutside of said cylinder and held in position by said stay-bolts andmeans for supplying air and water to the inner surface of said filteringmaterial, whereby the air and the water are together forced outwardly inthe chamber formed by the casing substantially as described.

5. In an air filter and cooler, the combination of a filter-cylinder awater-supply therefor, a casing therefor having a curved discharge-duct, one or more slotted partitions in said discharge-duct, andgutters arranged adjacent said slots to transfer moisture from one sideto the other of said partitions; substantially as described.

6. In an air filter and cooler, the combination of a high-speedfilter-ring, means for sup plying water to the inner surface thereof, acasing entirely surrounding said filter-ring so as to provide acontinuous air-collecting chamber entirely around said filter-ring, anda curved air-discharge duct leading from one side of said casing andfollowing the contour of the casing; substantially as described.

7 In an air filter and cooler, the combination of a high-speedfilter-ring, means for supplying water to the inner surface thereof, acasing entirely surrounding said filter-ring so as to provide acontinuous air-collecting chamber entirely around said filter-ring, acurved air-discharge duct leading from one side of said casing andfollowing the contour of the casing, and longitudinally-disposedpartitions in said discharge-duct, which partitions terminate at theinner end. of said duct and do not extend into the air-chambersurrounding the filter-ring; substantially as described.

8. In an air filter and cooler, the combination of a high-speedfilter-ring, a pump for supplying water to the inner surface thereof, acasing entirely surrounding said filter-ring and providing a continuousair-collecting chamber entirely around said filter-ring, a curvedair-discharge duct leading from one side of said casing and followingthe contour of the casing, a receptacle for receiving the water throwninto the casing and dischargeduct, and a connection between saidreceptacle and said pump, and the pump and the interior of the ring,whereby the water from said receptacle is pumped back onto the innersurface of the filter-ring substantially as described.

9. In an air filter and cooler, the combination with a filter-cylinder,of a pipe for distributing water over the inner face of said cylinder,said pipe having perforations, pins loosely arranged in saidperforations, and means for moving said pins; substantially asdescribed.

10. In an air filter and cooler, the combination with a filter-cylinder,of a pipe for distributing water over the inner face of said cylinder,said pipe having alining perfora tions forming discharge-openings,headed pins arranged in said perforations, a slotted pipe within thefirst-mentioned pipe for receiving the heads of said pins, and a rodarranged in the slotted pipe and cooperating with the heads of the pins,said rod extending to the exterior; substantially as described.

11. In an air filter and cooler, the combination of a filter-ringadapted to be rotated at a high speed, a series oflongitudinally-disposed wings acting as centrifugal fan-blades on itsperiphery, and means for supplying water and air to the inner surface ofsaid ring, whereby the air and the water are together forced outwardlyby centrifugal force; substantially as described.

12. In an air filter and cooler, the combination of a filterring open atone end, and adapted to be rotated at a high speed, a series oflongitudinally-disposed wings acting as centrifugal fan-blades on itsperiphery, a

casing surrounding said ring forming a receiving-chamber for the air andwater as they are forced outwardly by centrifugal force through thefilter-ring, said casing having an eye through which the open end ofsaid filter-ring is exposed, whereby external air is induced to flowinto the filter-ring, and a conduit for supplying water to the innerface of said filter-ring;substantially as described.

13. An air filter and cooler comprising a cylindrical casing provided inone of its side walls with an opening, a porous filter-ring mounted insaid casing and adapted to be rotated at a high speed to draw air intothe interior thereof through the opening in the casing, a curveddischarge air-duct communieating with the interior of the casing andfollowing the contour of said casing, a conduit for supplying water tothe inner face of the filter-ring whereby air and water are forcedoutwardly by centrifugal force through the porous material of the ringinto said casing, a receptacle for receiving the water which drains downthe walls of said casing and said discharge-duct, a pump for forcingwater into the supply-conduit, and a conduit for carrying the water fromsaid receptacle back to the pump; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature, in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 15th day of April, 1904.

JOHN ZELLWEGER.

Witnesses G. Av PENNINGTON, GEORGE BAKEWELL.

